Lenny White’s “Anomaly”

by Vince Lewis

Drummer Lenny White has been one of the top jazz/rock drummers for many years. He was a member of Return To Forever, in the 1970’s. White recently toured worldwide with a reunion of that group, and also with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. He was also a part of the Miles Davis classic project Bitches Brew. That album is generally credited with birthing the fusion movement. This recording, Anomaly, is his first as a leader in 10 years.

White has assembled quite a cast of high energy musicians to surround himself with. Guitarists include Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic), Nick Moroch (Astral Pirates), David Gilmore, Tom Guarna and David Bendeth. Keyboardists George Colligan, Bernard Wright, Donald Blackman and Vince Evans are present. The bass chair is held down by Victor Bailey, Richie Goods, Charles Fambrough and Stanley Clarke.

From the opening bass line statement of “Drum Boogie” this CD takes off running. The heavy funk groove is intense and in your face. The next selection is titled “We Know.” It is a straight ahead rock and roll tune complete with highly overdriven guitar. Other selections include “Forever,” “Dark Moon,” “If U Dare,” “Coming Down” and “Water Changes Everything.”

This album is intended to bring back the excitement and power of the early ’70s fusion movement. White states that “We need to start a revolution so that we can take back the music and stop the fluff.” The music presented here is hard driving and energetic. The band members are all in perfect sync throughout. Each arrangement is interesting and rhythmically complex. Anomaly certainly is a CD that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.

Anomaly
Lenny White
Abstract Logix ABLx 22
www.abstractlogix.com

Lenny White at the Montreal Drum Festival 2008